Laptops for Uni (2 Viewers)

[somecooldude]

what type of courses would they be the most useful in?

 

[stazi]

what type of courses would they be the most useful in?

arts, economics, social sciences, marketing, law, politics etc

 

[hobbsy4]

I'm going to have a desktop (chem eng).
for the storage space mainly i want it over a laptop.

 

[Skeeta]

yeah i've got a laptop for uni - i dont use it for my science subjects because we have handbook + lots of diagrams. I do use it for all of my communication and psych subjects, because the lecturers usually put the lecture notes up AFTER the lecture - and this way i can actually read my notes rather than spending hours trying to figure out what the scribbles on a page mean

on that note - theres a girl in my class who uses her laptop for EVERYTHING...and i mean everything - she took it into a lab class with cavaders

 

[Katie123]

ewww she would have dead body juice on it... I dont like taking my bag in the labs let alone a laptop. I wouldnt know what you woudl use it for because as you said we have manuals with diagrams.

 

[stazi]

yeah i've got a laptop for uni - i dont use it for my science subjects because we have handbook + lots of diagrams. I do use it for all of my communication and psych subjects, because the lecturers usually put the lecture notes up AFTER the lecture - and this way i can actually read my notes rather than spending hours trying to figure out what the scribbles on a page mean

on that note - theres a girl in my class who uses her laptop for EVERYTHING...and i mean everything - she took it into a lab class with cavaders

i'd like to put my hand on your book. whatever that mean's

 

[Skeeta]

ewww she would have dead body juice on it... I dont like taking my bag in the labs let alone a laptop. I wouldnt know what you woudl use it for because as you said we have manuals with diagrams.

yeah i know.. juice ewwwwwwww

honestly how much would it pong afterwards, i'd be tempted to never use it again! oh well each to their own i supose

 

[poloktim]

http://community.boredofstudies.org/showthread.php?t=56521

 

[PrincessSJ]

I have a laptop, which rarely goes to uni with me. I still like writing my lecture notes, and then other times are for a tiny bit of socialising, which is difficult if one is stuck behind a computer screen. At home I have my desk set up so I can use it like a desktop computer, along with a pile of crap that goes with any uni student's desk, which proves successful.

At uni tho, it is rare to see a teaching or nursing student with a laptop.. too much hard work i think..

Work out what is best for you and run with that

 

[neo o]

Question: Why would you use a laptop in a lecture or a seminar?

Answer: To get down every single thing that the lecturer says.

Obviously you don't need a written record of what every lecturer says because most classes have tapes, online recordings and easily available lecture notes. Depending on your subject, all you really need to do in lectures is to make broadish notes which you can then follow up in more detail later - everything your lecturer says isn't worth taking down.

If you think that you need the security blanket though - go for it.

 

[Gummy_bear]

If your worried aobut not being able to write everything the lecturer says down, cant you bring in one of those funky recorders? Just sit it on your table and record, but wrote notes too of course.

I personally will be writing, i can type fast, very fast, but im not a touch typer and i clock the keyboard really loud so it would annoy too many people.
I think i will either type up or re-write my notes after tho as my writing becomes almost illegable to others if im writing fast and after a while even i cant decifer it (i should be a doctor ..old joke i know)

 

[iwannarock]

laptops?

hell i don't even bring a book or a pen these days.

why would you need a lap top? if your subject has good online support then you don't even need to go to lectures at all. tapes overheads and everything can be found online.

ofcourse........they may not have that stuff.........in which case you're screwed and will actually have to pay attention.

 

[dark`secrets]

i havent seen anyone use a lap top in lectures,
there are a few used in the library.

 

[ManlyChief]

If your worried aobut not being able to write everything the lecturer says down, cant you bring in one of those funky recorders? Just sit it on your table and record, but wrote notes too of course.

Remember that if you want to use a dictaphone to record, you need to ask for permission first - academic lectures remain the intellectual property of the lecturers and some can get very bitchy if you try to infringe their IP rights by not seeking permission to record ...

 

[Dreamerish*~]

I'm thinking of buying a laptop for uni, but I have a few questions:

1. Is it common for students to use laptops during lectures?
2. Does it make note-taking easier or faster?
3. Is it a pain in the ass to carry around?

Thank you.

 

[Frigid]

I'm thinking of buying a laptop for uni, but I have a few questions:

1. Is it common for students to use laptops during lectures?
2. Does it make note-taking easier or faster?
3. Is it a pain in the ass to carry around?

i don't have one but will be getting one soon on a whim.

1. in one of last semester's law classes, i counted 15 laptops out of 35 people (as you can see, peer pressure).

2. i don't think it makes it easier/faster. however, it saves you having to type your notes up at home (from scratch), if you haven't made notes before class. if you have made notes before class, i don't think a lot of time will be saved by editing them in class and amending them by pen.

3. depends. i'm hunting after a tiny one. but my friend's have 14s and 15s and they seem fine.

 

[Callistogenic]

I can answer two of your three questions:
2. It can make it rather easy, providing you're willing do some fill-in work. Most laptops come with a microphone as standard. So in addition to typing up notes, you can also record the lecture. That or clip on a small lapel mic to pick up ambience. You'll have to adjust the gain, so it won't be the best quality recording, but it's only voice anyway.

3. Depends on how big the laptop. As has been seen in other threads in this sub-forum, the smaller the laptop the easier to carry.
I'd personally consider an iBook; no sharp edges, no doors to break off, cute screen and so on. (Of course with the new Intel macs rumoured to be days away... You might wanna wait.)

 

[Generator]

One question - is this something that you truly think you will need, or is it just something that you think will help you to fit in?

If you want to take and use a laptop, then do so. That is the only way that you will be able to work out whether or not it's worth the effort. That said, I suggest that you do get a notebook if it is within your budget, because even if you find that they aren't of use within the lecture hall, at least you will have a PC with some mobility.

Edit: Size 3 is much better than size 1.

 

[Cape]

1. After 2 years I'm yet to see someone use a laptop in a lecture. People take them to uni, to work on assignments and such, but sometimes theres not enough room in lectures.

2. Guess it depends on the subjects. A subject with heaps of diagrams it would be easier to take a pen and paper. I find the old pen and paper easier than using a computer though, I guess its up to your personal preference.

3. Dunno. Depends how heavy it is, how many books you have, if you travel by car or public transport and how far you actually walk.

 

[Phanatical]

Don't underestimate the value of a lighter laptop. If I were you, I'd sacrifice computer power for a lighter laptop. Your back will thank you.

An option I'm looking forward to over the next year is Tablet PCs, which allow you to write on the screen, with the data automatically turned into text. This sort of technology is especially useful for subjects where it's not so easy to use a computer, such as music.